Foundation for the Philippine Environment conducts Strategic Planning for Lake Mainit

Butuan City – The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) successfully conducted a three-day Strategic Planning Workshop Part 1 on August 20-22, 2008 at San Lorenzo Ruiz Pastoral Formation Center, Ampayon, Butuan City. It was actively participated with partners’ local government units in four lakeshore municipalities; eight assisted people’s organizations; Indigenous People; Geographic Rediscovery of Endangered Environment and Natural Resources in Mindanao (GREEN Mindanao) Association, Inc., Caraga Consortium for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc., and Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA).

Resource Persons from the Mindanao State University facilitated the said activity. Mr. Armando C. Pacudan, the Regional Operations Manager Mindanao Regional Unit explained the main purpose of the activity which is to formulate strategic development plans for Lake Mainit Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation project intervention as main workshop output of the activity.

The activity was highlighted with the workshops on assessing the Lake Mainit Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation project strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities; crafting vision and mission for Lake Mainit; and presentation of the 5-year indicative development plans which focus on organizational strengthening, environmental policy formulation and implementation, tribal empowerment, natural resources management (NRM), alternative livelihood, linkages/networking, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign, access to basic services/resources, and research and development.

The next step is to present the workshop output to the eight assisted community areas for validation and further enhancement for the Part 2 strategic planning. The following are the agreed dates of workshop presentation and validation to eight pilot communities in Lake Mainit:

August 28, 2008 a.m	Cantugas, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 31, 2008 a.m	Tagbuyawan, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 31, 2008 p.m	Tapian, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 29, 2008 a.m	San Juan, Alegria, Surigao del Norte and San Roque, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
August 29, 2008 p.m	Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
August 30, 2008 a.m	Bunga, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte
August 30, 2008 p.m	Poblacion, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte

Result of the validation will be presented and discussed on the Part 2 of strategic planning workshop which will be conducted on September 8-9, 2008.

Hopefully, the final strategic plan will be included in the continues project intervention of FPE in Lake Mainit biodiversity conservation, Mr. Pacudan said.
© By Johny S. Natad
Photos by Caraga Consortium for Environmental Protection & Sustainable Development, Inc.

Lake Mainit FMC attend PACAP RBME Training

By: Johny S. Natad

Cebu City – Eleven participants from Lake Mainit FOCAS Management Committee (FMC) attended the four-day training on Results-Based Monitoring & Evaluation (RBME) with Lakbay-Aral held at Richmond Plaza Hotel, Cebu City on July 28-31, 2008. The training was sponsored by the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) and facilitated by Mr. Rodolfo B. Santos Jr. as the resource person of the said training with Ms. Monina G. Hernandez, the PACAP Provincial Project Officer, and Ms. Annabel Naig, the Administrative Staff as the training management team.

Attended on the training were Mr. Alberto M. Garrido, the FMC Chairperson; Mr. Felix P. Maglaque, the People’s Organization Representative for Surigao del Norte; Engr. Kaiser B. Recabo, Jr, the LMDA Director; Ms. Ann Jaquilmac, the NEDA Representative; Ms. Josephine Adriaque, PPDO-Agusan Norte Representative; Mr. Jerry B. Acero, of SNCAT; Ms. Glenda A. Plaza, of AADC-Mindanao; Mr. Emelio Pantejo of PPDO Surigao Norte; Mr. Emmanuel A. Miraballes of Alterdev; Forester Omar C. Barillo, the Project Coordinator; and Mr. Johny S. Natad, the Assistant Project Coordinator.

Ms. Hernandez said that there is a need to enhance the stakeholders’ competencies in monitoring and evaluating projects through a more results-focused and impact-driven approach. The RBME Training aims to provide the framework and fundamentals for a systematic and results-based type of M&E that shifts the focus to the benefits derived from the project during implementation and the impact of the project intervention at various levels. The training will also serve as an opportunity for sharing practical knowledge and noteworthy practices among the FOCAS Clusters.

The Lakbay-Aral as part of the training activity was conducted to PACAP assisted projects like the Integrated Micro Watershed and Community Development Project at Barangay Anopog, Pinamugajan, Cebu implemented by Mag-uugmad Foundation, Inc. (MFI) and the Kwarta sa Basura at Barangay Luz, Cebu City, Cebu City implemented by Lihok Pilipina and Local Government Unit of Barangay Luz.

The said training was also participated by the FMCs of Hinatuan Passage Development Alliance (HIPADA) and Siargao Islands Protected Landscape and Seascapes (SIPLAS).
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Photos by Ms. Ann Jaquilmac and Ms. Monina Hernandez

LMDA conducts CSO-LGU Meeting

Jabonga, Agusan del Norte – The Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) facilitated Civil Society Organization (CSO) LGU Meeting on June 25, 2008 held at Sustainable Agriculture Learning and Resource Center, Barangay Cuyago, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. The meeting attended by 51 representatives from partner LGUs, NGOs, POs, Academe and national government line agency.

The LGU and line agency representatives who attended the meeting were Ms. Ybonne S. Buñe of Municipality of Sison; Mr. Emilio Pantejo of Province of Surigao del Norte; Mr. Rollan M. Beronilla of Municipality of Jabonga; Mr. Nilo M. Montaner of Municipality of Mainit; and Mr. Renato Corvera of DTI Agusan del Norte. The Surigao Norte College of Agriculture of Technology was represented by Mr. Carlos Dunque. The following NGOs and POs who participated in the activity:

• Associates for Integral Development Foundation, Inc.
• Caraga Consortium fro Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc.
• Alterdev Services Foundation, Inc.
• Agri-Aqua Development Coalition-Mindanao
• Kasanyangan Rural Development Foundation
• Propegemus Foundation, Inc.
• Surigao Economic Development Foundation
• San Isidro Upland Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO)
• Sison Hungos Multipurpose Cooperative (SIHUMCO)
• Tapian Developer's Association
• Tagbuyawan Lakeshore Association
• Dayano Farmer's Association
• Paco Coconut Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative
• Magpayang Rural Farmers and Producers Cooperative (MARUFAPCO)
• Marga Farmers Irrigators Association (MAFIA)
• Capayahan Agrarian Beneficiaries Organization (CABO)
• San Isidro Lihok sa Kalabuan Inc. (SIKLA)
• San Roque Multipurpose Cooperative (SAROMCO)
• Bangonay Developer's Farmers Association (BANDFA)
• Cuyago Farmer's & Fishersfolk’s Association (CUFFA)
• Canaway Farmer’s & Fisherfolk’s Association (CAFFA)
• Budlingin Multipurpose Cooperative
• Camp Eduard Multipurpose Cooperative
• Kahugpungan sa mga Organisadong Katawhan sa Jabonga (KAOSA-KA)

The said meeting highlighted with the sharing of project updates from the Focal Community Assistance Scheme (FOCAS) and Responsive Assistance Scheme (RAS) projects of AusAID-PACAP in 14 communities by the partner NGOs and POs. Engr. Kaiser B. Recabo, Jr, the LMDA Program Director presented the highlights on the latest Sustainable Fisheries Program for Lake Mainit inception report of MSU-Naawan and the Solid Waste Management updates. Mr. Pantejo presented the provincial investment updates of Surigao del Norte. Mr. Corvera informed the participants that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of Agusan and Surigao del Norte is willing to help partners in project development, trainings and other technical assistance.

The CSO-LGU Meeting is part of the Lake Mainit FOCAS Milestone activity. The activity will provide periodic coordination among Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Peoples Organizations (POs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) regarding development efforts and environmental intervention for Lake Mainit particularly on the project implementations. The activity will further give significant information to the concerned people and offices with a purpose to encourage them participate in discussion, planning and advocacy promotion for Lake Mainit.

PLEASE Project Launching deemed successful

Alegria, Surigao del Norte - Project launching ceremony of PACAP-funded project “People’s Livelihood Efforts in Agro-forestry and Sustainable Environment” (PLEASE) was successfully conducted on July 21, 2008 at Barangay Budlingin Multi-Purpose Hall, Barangay Budlingin, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. The ceremony started with unveiling of project signage and ceremonial planting jointly exhibited by project partners who were in attendance. (Read more)